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Alden 46
Designer: Niels Helleberg  ·  Builder: Alden Yachts Inc.  ·  First built: 1987
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About the Alden 46

Crafted by the legendary Alden design house, this 46-foot sailboat carries forward a distinguished lineage of offshore cruising yachts that has earned respect among serious sailors for decades. Alden's reputation for creating robust, seaworthy vessels capable of handling challenging conditions makes this model particularly appealing to cruisers planning extended coastal and offshore passages. The design philosophy emphasizes traditional sailing characteristics combined with modern construction techniques, resulting in a yacht that offers both comfort and performance. Like other Alden designs, this boat likely features a moderate displacement hull form that provides a good balance between speed and stability, making it well-suited for long-distance cruising where reliability and seaworthiness take precedence over pure racing performance. Alden yachts are known for their thoughtful deck layouts and well-proportioned sail plans that can be managed by a small crew, an important consideration for couples or families embarking on extended voyages. The build quality and attention to detail typical of the Alden brand suggest this is a yacht designed for serious cruising sailors who value proven design principles and construction integrity over the latest trends.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 47.67 ft / 14.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.08 ft / 11.30 m
Beam 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
Max Draft 10.10 ft / 3.08 m
Min Draft 5.30 ft / 1.62 m
Displacement 32,000.00 lb / 14,515 kg
Ballast 13,000.00 lb / 5,897 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,076.00 ft² / 99.96 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Niels Helleberg
Builder Alden Yachts Inc.
First Built 1987
Last Built 1997
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
84
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
17.15
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
38.38
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.7
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.16
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
1.92
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 60.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.3
P (Mainsail Luff) 53.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 18.75
SA Fore 579.0
SA Main 496.88
How It Compares

vs. Hinckley 48, Oyster 48 Lightwave, Tartan 48

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Alden 46 ★
47.7 ft
Hinckley 48
48.3 ft
Oyster 48 Lightwave
48.0 ft
Tartan 48
48.0 ft
LWL
Alden 46 ★
37.1 ft
Hinckley 48
34.2 ft
Oyster 48 Lightwave
41.7 ft
Tartan 48
36.0 ft
Beam
Alden 46 ★
13.5 ft
Hinckley 48
13.0 ft
Oyster 48 Lightwave
14.3 ft
Tartan 48
14.0 ft
Displacement
Alden 46 ★
32 lbs
Hinckley 48
36 lbs
Oyster 48 Lightwave
27 lbs
Tartan 48
28 lbs
Ballast
Alden 46 ★
13 lbs
Hinckley 48
10 lbs
Oyster 48 Lightwave
11 lbs
Tartan 48
Sail Area
Alden 46 ★
1 sq ft
Hinckley 48
1 sq ft
Oyster 48 Lightwave
1 sq ft
Tartan 48
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Alden 46 ★
84 s/nm
Hinckley 48
108 s/nm
Oyster 48 Lightwave
62 s/nm
Tartan 48
80 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Alden 46 ★
17.2
Hinckley 48
15.0
Oyster 48 Lightwave
18.9
Tartan 48
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Alden 46 ★
38.4
Hinckley 48
47.6
Oyster 48 Lightwave
27.6
Tartan 48
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Alden 46 ★
1.70
Hinckley 48
1.58
Oyster 48 Lightwave
1.91
Tartan 48
Hull Speed
Alden 46 ★
8.2 kts
Hinckley 48
7.8 kts
Oyster 48 Lightwave
8.7 kts
Tartan 48
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Alden 46 ★
1.9
Hinckley 48
1.0
Oyster 48 Lightwave
3.4
Tartan 48
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